33-year-old Ronnie Lamont Franklin was shot dead after a verbal altercation with group inside Bojangles on West Blvd.

Four shootings in a 48 hour period, two of them deadly, have brought Charlotte's Homicide rate for 2019 to 88. Data shows that this year has been the deadliest year since 1995. Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Central Division Officers responded to a call for a shooting at 5:03 p.m. on Sunday, October 20, 2019, when officers located a male with a gunshot wound outside of the Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits.

A preliminary investigation has revealed that a verbal altercation between the victim and a group of patrons inside the restaurant occurred prior to the shooting. CMPD confirms the altercation spilled out into the parking lot where shots were fired. Ronnie Lamont Franklin, 33, was fatally shot in the parking lot. The suspects fled in a newer model Nissan Rogue on West Boulevard towards Interstate 77 away from Charlotte.

Following the shooting, an all too familiar site unfolded as crime tape covered the restaurant parking lot. Crime Scene technicians were photographing an area where the victim was pronounced dead by Mecklenburg County EMS paramedics. Detectives with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department are interviewing witness and reviewing surveillance video from inside the fast-food establishment.

"There's not a number we're okay with, less is always better. Unless we have a year where there is zero homicides, we're not going to be satisfied with our work," said CMPD Maj. Ryan Butler.

The investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this most recent homicide can call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or visit the Crime Stoppers website at .